Refrigerator cabinet latch strike



1952 LA MAR s. COOPER REFRIGERATOR CABINET LATCH STRIKE Filed Oct. 28, 1950 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFECE La Mar S Cooper, Cedar Eapids, Iowa, assignor to Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowa, a

corporation of Iowa Application October 28, 15 50, Serial No. 192,'?67

6 Ciains. l

This invention relates to a latch strike assembly for use in cabinets such as refrigerator cabinets. The primary use of the device is for use in refrigerator cabinets but it can of course be employed in other types of cabinets.

The latch strike includes an elongated shank portion with a hook element at the outer end adapted for cooperation With a latch structure in the door of the cabinet It is an object therefore of the invention to provide a novel construction latch strike for embodiment in the wall of the refrigerator cabinet, which embodies a mountng means entirely concealed in the wall, and only a portion of the strike is exposed outwardly of the wall, and in which the exposed portion has a pleasing appearance.

The latch strike of the present invention cooperates with a latch mechanism that is imbedded in the interior of the door structure and is of the type for extension into the interior of the door for cooperation with the latch mechanism therein, whereby the latch strike is substantially entirely concealed when the door is closed.

Therefore another object of the present invention is to provide a latch strike of the type just referred to, which is of minimum dimensions so that the opening in the door into which the strike must pass can be made as small as practicable and the door Construction and design will consequently have a pleasing appearance and conceal as much as possible of the latch mechanism.

Another object of the inventicn is the provision of a latch strike with a simple and effective means for adjustment of the strike in two directions, one of which is horizontal to compensate for Variations in horizontal alignment of the door, and the other of which is inwardly and outwardly of the wall to compensate for variations in the mounting of the latch strike, and of the latch mechanism in the door, as well as the gasket on the door which engages the cabinet wall.

A still further object is the provisicn of a latch strike for mounting in the wall of a refrigerator cabinet in which the mcunting means is of such novel Construction as to employ a thermal barrie' between the latch strike and the cabinet liner and therefore a thermal barrier between the latcii strike and the interior of the cabinet.

With these and other cbjects in view, my in vention consists of the Construction, arrangcment and combination of the various parts of my device whereby .the obiects coutenpated areattainei as lierenat'ter more tulla! sot orth, pointed out in e (Ci. 292-34L18) the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional View of a portion of the refrigerator cabinet showing the latch strike of the present invention and its mounting;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View taken online l of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a View taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral !2 indicates a portion of a wall of a refrigerator cabinet. The wall structure includes the usual outer case Hi and inner liner lt, with insulation !8 therebetween. The liner !6, of which only a small portion is shown, defnes the interior storage space of the refrigerator cabinet, which is indicated generally at 20, the storage space being closed by the refrigerator door indicated diagrammatically at 22.

The wall element !2, as will be readily understood, terminates in a surface surrounding the open side of the interior compartment 20, and this surface is completed and enclosed by a construction of a type which will now be described. The outer case M adjacent the surface above referred to is turned inwardly to form a fiange 24, the material being bent back on itself and extended rearwardly along the inner surface of the case as indicated at 23 and again bent inwardly to form a fiange 28 substantially parallel with and spaced from the ange 24, forming a channel. A channel member 3!! is positioned in the first channel, having a fiange 32 Secured to the fiange 28 as by Welding, and another fiange 34 spaced from but disposed closely adjacent the flange 2 5. The inner liner !5 is turned outwardly to form a fiange 35 nearly in alignment with the fianges 28 and 32. Secured 'to the flange 36 is a retainer strip 38 having a flange Secured directly to the fiange 35 as by means of a screw 40 and an arcuate portion 42 terminating in a tip 44 spaced from the ange 36 a distance less than the greatest inner dimension of the curved arcuate portion 52.

The nunerai indicates a breaker strip which ccnposed of a pia-stis or other desired heat insulating material The breaker strip t is generally L shaped, having a bead 48 extending inwardly from the short leg thereof. A scaling asket 5@ of rubber or other desired resilient material .iitted ever the head !mother e'asket fitteai over the ii ge the gasket having ribs 54 extending toward the fiange 24. The breaker strip is inserted in place by movement in a direction which in the present instance is from left to right, whereby the bead i& with its gasket is inserted in the arcuate element 42, and the extended end of the breaker strip is inserted between the fiange 2:3 and the extended edges of the ribs 5. 3. The breaker strip is readily inserted into place, but due to the fiexing of the ribs 54 and the fact that the mouth of the arcuate portion 42 is of less dimension than its greater interier dimension, the breaker strip cannot be readily removed. The breaker strip effectively seals the interier of the wall structure against the entrance of moisture and it forms a thermal barrier between the liner I& and the outer case M.

The breaker strip :35 above described, and the Construction for mounting it in place, form the subject matter disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Robert E. Moore, Serial No. 197,'786, filed November 27, 1950, which application is assigned to the assignee of the present application. Attenticn is directed to said copending application for further details of construction and purpose of the breaker strip.

A mounting plate 55 is welcled to the fiange 28 in position extending toward the liner IG. The height of the mounting plate may be only a matter of several inches and it need not extend the full height of the wall. Interconnecting the mounting plate 56 and the flange 38 is a structural strip 58 which is composed of laminated paper impregnatecl with phenolic plastio. This strip possesses the desired structural strergth and it is an effective thermal barrier between the mounting plate 55 and the liner !6. The strip 58 may be secured at one end by the screws 40 and at the other end it is Secured between parts 56 and 82.

The latch strike and its mounting components are indicatecl generally at 69. The latch strike element itself is indicated at 6 5 and includes an elongated shank 65 with a hook element 68 in its outer end. The shank 65 is tubular in form, having a central opening extending entirely through the element, and it will be noted also that the inner end of the shank is exteriorly threaded as indicated at N. The outer end of the opening through the shank element is in the form of an enlarged recess 12 (Figure 2).

The inner threaded end. 79 of the shank element is threaded into a nut 'M having interior threads for that purpose. The nut 'M has a pair of integral prongs or ngers ?6 which are arranged horzontally with respect to each other in the assembly of the device.

The mounting plate 55 is provided With a horizontal slot 18 through which the prongs 18 extend. The horizontal dimension of the slot '18 is ccnsiderably greater than the distance between the outermost surface of the prongs 16 to enable the nut or sleeve i to be adjusted horizontally. The engaging surfaces of the mounting plate 56 and the nut 'M are provided with relatively fine, vertically disposed, fiutes or teeth 88, for retaining the nut '34 in position horizontally when brought into tight engagement therewith.

On the opposite side of. the mounting plate 56 from the nut 'M is a nounting element 82 which may be referred to as a locking Washer, although the element also performs the function of a locking nut. The mounting element 82 is physically in the form of a plate and has horizontally spaced holes 84 for 'eceiving the prongs '16. The element 82 is also provided with a centrally threaded hole 86 disposed in axial alignment with the nut M.

In assembling and mounting the device, the p'ongs ?6 are first in erted through the slot 78 and then through the holes 84; thereafter, holding clips 33 are tted on the prongs ?5 and left in positions spaced from the element 82. The clips 88 are fiexible sheet metal devices having a central hole and fiexible gripping fingers 'extending inwardly toward each other. The inner ends of the gripping fingers are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the prongs TE, and when the clips are tted on the prongs 's the gripping fingers are fiexed to the position shown and the clips are retained on the prongs. The nut 'M and the mounting element 32 are therefore efiectively mounted on the mounting plate 56. These two elements are mounted in position in the Construction of the cabinet wall !2 before the breaker strip 46 is put in place. At this point it should be noted that the structural strip 58 may have a bifurcated end overlying the plate 55 so that the latch strike and its associated elements can be tted between the prongs formed by the bifurcation; however, any other desired construction may be employed.

The breaker strip 46 is provided with a hole 95 in substantial alignment with the nut 'id when the breaker strip is put in place. The hole 90 is of greater diameter than the shank 66 to allow for adjustment of the shank, and obviously the hole eu in the final Construction may not be concentric with the shank 66. The hole sa is covered by an escutcheon 92 having a plate element 94 in the form of a disc of a diameter substantially greater than the hole 95. The disc 94 has a central hole and an axially extending sleeve element 96 terminating in an inner fiange 98 of relatively small radial dimension. A Washer mu surrounds the sleeve element 96 and engages the inner surface of the breaker strip. Engaging the Washer IBE) is a spring Washer IDZ composed of spring material, having portions bent out of its normal plane. A looking pin IM, roughly in the shape of a hairpin, is then tted into the assembly, in a position engaging the spring Washer [02 and having arcuate portions IGS engaging the inner surface of the fiange 98. The spring Washer 102 reacts between the Washer !00 and the pin !04, biasing the pin inwardly and thereby retaining the disc portion 94 of the escutcheon plate in engagement with the outer surface of the breaker strip.

The mounting elements and 82 are put in place in the construction of the wall as above noted, Later in the Construction of the wall, the breaker strip 46 is inserted in place as above described, after the escutcheon plate 92 and its associatecl parts having been put in position in the breaker strip. The latch strike proper 64 is then inserted through the hole in the escutcheon plate 9 3 and threaded into the nut N. The locking screw !53 is then inserted through the tubular latch strike element 64, extended through the slot ?8, and threaded into the hole 86. The outer end of the looking screw !08 is of course provided with a head such as HE) and is associated with a lock Washer HZ, the head and Washer being adapted for cooperation with the latch strike.

The inner panel of the door 22'-that is, the panel next to the breaker strip 46-is provided with an opening for insertion of the latoh strike, and the latch mechanism is such that the latching element IM engages with the hook element 68 for latching the door closed. The door is of course provided with a handle for unlatchng the latch and permitting the door to be opened. It is believed that it is unnecessary to illustrate any particular kind of latch mechanism. The door is also provided with a sealing gasket I is which engages the wall of the cabinet for scaling the interior of the cabinet from the exterior.

The looking screw ma can be locsened, after which the whole assembly can be adjusted hori- Zontally, if such should be desired, in order to position the latch strike for proper ooaotion with the latch mechanism. After the latch strike is adjusted to its desired position, the looking screw !88 is turned in to tight looking position, whereupon the teeth %ti interlock to retain the latch strike and its whole assembly against horizontal displacement.

The latch strike is also adjustable longitudinally inwardly and outwardly of the wall. In order to make such adjustment, the looking screw !58 is loosened and the strike element proper 64 can be so adjusted by threading it inwardly or outwardly. After making such adjustment, the looking screw i ea is again turned into tight locking position. It may be desired to adjust the latoh strike inwardly or outwardly to oompensate for variations in the thickness of the gasket H, or other minor variations in dimensions encountered in articles of manufacture.

In all adjustments horizontally of the latoh strike, the escutoheon plate 92 covers the hole 95 and in all longitudinal adjustments inwardly and outwardly the esoutcheon plate is retained in engagement with the breaker strip 46 by the spring Washer !02, and the latch strike moves longitudinally relative to the escutcheon.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that there is a thermal barrier between the latch strike and the interior of the refrigerator oabinet. The structural strip se provides effective hoat insulation and the same is true of the breaker strip tt.

The latch strike, because of its n-ovel Construction, is simple and effective for the purpose intended, as well as being of pleasing appearanoe, the latter including the feature that the latoh strike is of minimum dimensions whereby when the door is opened a minimum portion of the latoh strike is exposed, and when the door is closed the latoh strike is conoealed.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood of course that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifioations may be made,- and I, therefore, contemplate by the claims appended thereto to cover any such modification or substitutions of meohanioal equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scopo of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a devioe of the character disclosed or mounting in a wall structure and adapted for ocoperation with a door having a latoh, the com= bination compris' plate} mounted in said wall, said plate having an opening therethrough, an ;nteriorly threaded tubular member on one side of said plate, a looking Washer having a threaded opening on the opposite side of said plate, a tubular strike elemjent threaded in said tubular member and extomlingout of the welt for cooperation with said latoh, said strike element on rotation thereof being adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the wall, and a looking screw extending through said strike element, through the opening in said plate and threaded in said looking Washer, said looking screw reacting between said strike element and looking Washer for looking said tubular member and looking Washer in engagement with said plate and looking said strike element against rotation in said tubular member, said Washer and said tubular member both being displaceable over the surface of said plate except when engaged with said plate by said looking action of said looking screw.

2. In a devioe of the character disclosed for mounting in a wall structure and adapted for cooperation with a door having a latoh, the combination oomprising, a plate mounted in said wall, said plate having a horizontal slot therein, an interiorly threaded tubular member on one side of said plate, a looking Washer having a threaded opening on the opposite side of said plate, a tubular strike element threaded in said tubular member and extending out of the wall for cooperation with said latoh, said strike element on rotation thereof being adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the wall, and a looking screw extending through said strike element, through said slot in said plate and threaded in said looking Washer, said tubular member and looking Washer being adjustable horizontally in said slot, said looking screw reacting between said strike element and looking Washer for looking said tubular member and looking Washer in horizontally adjusted positions on said plate, and for looking said strike element against rotation in said tubular member.

3. In a devioe of the character disclosed for mounting in a wall structure and adapted for oooperation with a door having a latoh, the combination oomprising a plate mounted in said wall, said plate having a horizontal slot therein, mounting elements having interiorly threaded openings on opposite sides of said plate, said plate and one of said elements having interengaging teeth, said one mounting element having a portion projecting through said slot and into the other mounting element so that said two mounting elements are displaoeable as a unitary assembly with respect to the axis of said plate, a strike element threaded in one of said elements and extending out of the wall for cooperation with said latoh, said strike element on rotation thereof being adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the wall, said strike element having an opening therethrough, and a looking screw extending through said strike element and threaded into the mounting element on the opposite side of the plate, said looking screw, acting through said strike element reacting between said mounting elements and looking them in horizontally adjusted positions, and looking said strike element against rotation.

i. In a devioe of the character disclosed for mounting in a wall structure and adapted for cooperation with a door having a latoh, the oombination comprising, a plate mounted in said Wall, said plate having a horizontal slot therein, a threaded tubular member on one side oi said plate, said tubular member having horizontally spaced prongs extending through said slot, a looking Washer on the opposite side of said plate havin openings receiving said prongs, means for looking said tubular member and Washer to gether comprisng an interiorly threaded opening in said Washer, a tubular strike element threaded in said tubular member and extending out of the wall for cooperation with said latch, said strike element on rotation thereof being adjustable inwardly and outwardly of the Wall, and a looking screw extending through said strike ele ment, through the opening in said plate and threaded in said looking Washer, said looking screw reacting between said strike element and looking Washer for looking said tubular member and looking washer in engagement with said plate and looking said strike element against rotation in said tubular member.

5. In a refrigerator wall and latch strike construction, said wall having an outer closure member extending between the outer case and inner iiner, the combination comprising, a mounting member Secured in the wall and extending through an opening in said wall closure member to the exterior of the wall for cooperation with a latch, said latch strike being adjustable longitudinally in directions inwardly and outwardly of the wall and being adjustable transversely of said first directions, an escutcheon on said latch strike engageable with the outer surface of said wall closure member, said escutcheon being of sufiicient dimensions to cover said opening in all positions of transverse adjustment of said latch strike, said latch strike being movable longitudinally through said escutcheon, and means for retainng said escutcheon in'engagement with said wall closure member and against displacement therefrom by longitudinal movement of said latch strike.

6. In a ref'igerator wall and latch strike construction, said wall having an outer case and inner liner with insulation therebetween, and said wall having an outer closure member of insulation material extending between said outer case and inner liner, the combination comprising, a mounting member Secured in the wall on said outer case, a reinforcing member of insulation material interconnected between said mounting member and said inner liner, a latch strike adjustably mounted on said mounting member and extending through an opening in said wall closure member to the exterior of the wall for cooperation with a latch, said latch strike being adjustable longitudinally in directions inwardly and outwardly of the wall and being adjustable transversely of said first directions, an escutcheon on said latch strike engageable with the outer surface of said wall closure member, said escutcheon being of sufiicient dimensions to cover said opening in all positions of transverse adjustment of said latch strike, said latch strike being movable longitudinally through said escutcheon, and means for retaining said escutcheon in engagement with said wall closure member and against displacement therefrom by longitudinal movement of said latch strike.

LA MAR S. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,069,878 Johnson Aug. 12, 1913 2,019,408 Grill Oct. 29, 1935 2,265,691 Hogg Dec. 9, 1941 

